Clinical trials of patient education for chronic conditions: A comparative meta-analysis of intervention types

doi:10.1016/0091-7435(85)90070-2

Preventive Medicine

Volume 14, Issue 6, November 1985, Pages 753-781

https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-7435(85)90070-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

Results are reported of a quantitative synthesis of 70 published evaluations of educational programs for people with long-term health problems and regimens that include drugs. Study methods and interventions are rated according to methodological and educational principles, respectively. The differential effects achieved by seven types of educational techniques are compared. The largest effect-size values (in standard deviation units) for knowledge were in three empirically distinct and homogeneous groups of studies—those testing one-to-one counseling, group education, and one or both of these strategies in combination with audiovisual materials (range = 0.73 – 1.13). Homogeneous subgroups of behavioral studies (grouped according to type of intervention) were found within the studies measuring drug utilization errors, but the overall group was homogeneous. The absence of significant differences among the subgroups precluded subgroup comparison. The overall effect size was 0.37, indicating substantially decreased drug errors. Analyses of study and other intervention characteristics found the educational rating score to be the strongest predictor of effect size for both knowledge and drug errors. Patient package inserts were predictors of lower effect sizes.

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^☆: Supported in part by a contract from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association to P.D.M. and L.W.G.

View full text

Clinical trials of patient education for chronic conditions: A comparative meta-analysis of intervention types☆

Abstract

Pediatrics

Patient Couns. Health Educ.

Lancet

J. Chronic Dis.

Patient Couns. Health Educ.

The contributions of consumer health education to primary care practice: A review

Med. Care

Informing Patients About Drugs: Analysis of Alternative Designs for Flurazepam Leaflets

A study of patients' knowledge in relation to teaching format and compliance

Superv. Nurse

Effects of organized instruction for patients with the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

Nurs. Res.

Adhering to Medical Regimens: Pilot Experiments in Patient Education and Social Support

The effects of self-monitoring by patients on the control of hypertension

Amer. J. Med. Sci.

A preliminary study designed to explore the difference in effectiveness of group and individual teaching in self-medication

Nurs. Pap.

The pharmacist's role in preventing medication errors made by cardiac and hyperlipoproteinemic outpatients

Drug Intel.

Evaluation of the use of programmed instruction for patients maintained on Warfarin therapy

Amer. J. Public Health

The effectiveness of education for family management of asthma in children: A preliminary report

Health Educ. Q.

Changes in children's school performance as a result of education for family management of asthma

J. Sch. Health

The evaluation of a community-based group program for low-income diabetics and hypertensives

Amer. J. Comm. P.

Drug compliance in elderly hospital inpatients: Trial of the Dosett box

Practitioner

Assessment of a new calendar pack—The C-PAK

Age Ageing

Content and retention evaluation of an audiovisual patient-education program on bronchodilators

Amer. J. Hosp. Pharm.

A meta-analytic analysis of effects of psychoeducational interventions on length of postsurgical hospital stay

Nurs. Res.

The effects of family involvement and practitioner home visits on the control of hypertension

Amer. J. Public Health

Compliance of chronic asthmatics with oral administration of theophylline as measured by serum and salivary levels

Pediatrics

Effect of packaging on patient compliance with an antihypertensive medication

Curr. Ther. Res.

Evaluation of programmed education among juvenile diabetics and their families

Diabetes

Teaching self-management skills to asthmatic children and their parents in an ambulatory care setting

Pediatrics

Improved patient compliance through use of a daily drug reminder chart

Amer. J. Public Health

Integrating findings: The meta-analysis of research

Rev. Res. Educ.

Meta-Analysis in Social Research

Research and demonstration issues in self-care: Measuring the decline of medicocentrism

Health Educ. Monogr.

Compliance in Health Care

Statistics

Improving medication compliance by teaching outpatients

Nurs. Forum

Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis

Evaluating a learning device for juvenile diabetic children

Diabetes Care

Improved outcomes in hypertension after physician tutorials

Ann. Intern. Med.

Informing Patients About Drugs: Analysis of Alternative Designs for Estrogen Leaflets

A test of interventions to increase adherence to hypertensive medical regimens

Health Educ. Q.

A controlled trial of the effects of patient education in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes

Diabetes Care